Alter
/ˈaltər/
The German word for dude is Alter.
In colloquial German, Alter is used as an exclamation or a term of address similar to how one uses "dude" or "man" in English.
Meaning: colloquial: man (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word Alter literally means "old one" or "age".
Which one should you use?
While the English "dude" can sometimes be used in a gender-neutral way, Alter is grammatically masculine and is almost exclusively used when addressing males or as a general exclamation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Alter is highly informal and should be avoided in professional or formal settings. Other informal options include Kumpel (buddy or pal) and Typ (guy).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southern Germany and Austria, the term Bursch is used to mean "lad" or "guy".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a term of address, Alter remains in its base form and does not change for grammatical case in common slang usage.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaltər/
Did you know?
- While Alter is used as a 'dude' equivalent, the word Kumpel specifically originates from the mining industry, where it described the bond between miners working in dangerous conditions.
- Unlike 'dude' in American English, which can be used to describe a strange person (e.g. 'some dude'), Alter is almost never used to describe a stranger in the third person.
- In many German youth subcultures, the word Alter is frequently used as a standalone reaction to any surprising news, effectively functioning as a complete sentence.
Examples in context
- Alter, lass den Scheiß.Dude, cut the crap.This example shows how to use Alter to tell someone to stop their nonsense.Tatoeba #12326752 by Rantanplan, translation #12326754 by Rantanplan
- Die Party war abgefahren, Alter!That party was off the hook, dude!This example demonstrates using Alter to express excitement about a party.Tatoeba #629825 by Zaghawa, translation #523575 by FeuDRenais
- Alter, ist das ’ne heiße Schnecke!Dude, she's hot!This example illustrates using Alter as an exclamation regarding someone's attractiveness.Tatoeba #3969417 by pne, translation #483523 by FeuDRenais
- Hey, Kumpel, was machst du heute?Hey, dude, what are you doing today?
- Na, Mann, wie geht's?Hey, dude, how's it going?
- Hey, Junge, hast du Lust, ins Kino zu gehen?Hey, dude, do you feel like going to the movies?
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a broken car engine.
- JuliaAlter, der Motor ist komplett kaputt.Dude, the engine is completely broken.
- JulianEcht jetzt, Alter? Das ist ja übel.Really, dude? That is bad.
- JuliaJulian, du musst mir jetzt helfen.Julian, you have to help me now.
- JulianKeine Sorge, ich schaue es mir an.Don't worry, I'll take a look at it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Alter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
